Amazon Home Services: You can now book handymen, electricians and plumbers through Amazon UK

In the beginning all Amazon sold was books, and books typically just work out of the box (with a few notable exceptions). As Amazon has grown, the products it delivers to shoppers’ doors are getting more complicated, and in some cases could do with a professional hand to ensure that the buyer doesn’t break anything, and then moan online to anyone who’ll listen.

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Well now Amazon is bridging that gap in the UK, with the arrival of Home Services, which launches in the UK today. If you buy an appliance or electrical equipment on Amazon, you’ll now have the opportunity to hire a trusted professional to install it for you at a date of your choosing. Just add the service and date at the checkout, just as you might impulse buy a couple of books.

Initially available to customers in Greater London, Birmingham and Manchester, Amazon Home Services has picked the professionals it works with itself on an invite-only system. These professionals will be subject to Amazon reviews in the same way other products are, and the company says that it will offer a “happiness guarantee” where it will work with both parties in the event of a dispute and ensure that either “the job gets done right” or you get a refund.

On the subject of money, the price of the handiwork is listed upfront, so there shouldn’t be any surprises, and payment is only taken when the agreed work is completed. And yes, you can use Amazon Home Services even if you’ve bought something from another story – at that point though, it’s basically a rival to TaskRabbit or RatedPeople.

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“We’re thrilled to be expanding Amazon Home Services to the UK as a simple way to book trusted, service professionals,” said Scott Webster, general manager of Amazon Home Services Europe. “Following our successful launch in the US, customers have told us they love the convenience and peace of mind that comes with trusted, professional installation of their products. We’re delighted to be able to offer this same experience to UK customers through a network of handpicked, local tradespeople and service providers.”